Can I use Windows XP MCE 2005 to connect to Small Business Server 2003?

[bupkus]

Can I use Windows XP MCE 2005 to connect to Small Business Server 2003? or do I need XP?

 

[stash]

Depends on what you mean by connect. If you just want to browse to file shares on the server, it will work as long as you know a username and password of an account on the server.

Joining the domain will not work, at least not without a hack, and doing so will break extender functionality.

 

[bupkus]

I was thinking of setting up a database server on Windows 2003, like perhaps an Access 2003 program I'm thinking of writing and allowing a small number of individuals access.

 

[JDMnAR1]

You should be able to do that, but as stash said, each user who will be accessing the app/database will need valid credentials on the server with sufficient rights to do so. The machines do not necessarily have to have accounts within the domain.

 

[Brazen]

You could also install MySQL Server on the SBS2003 machine and set up MySQL DSNs on each of your clients. This would give much better performance and reliability than sharing an Access file, plus I believe you can not have more than 10 concurrent users in an Access database (or maybe it's just not recommended).

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: bupkus
I was thinking of setting up a database server on Windows 2003, like perhaps an Access 2003 program I'm thinking of writing and allowing a small number of individuals access.

Consider using a web-based interface, no matter what database you choose. It's not horribly difficult to create a data-driven web site (FrontPage 2003 has built-in Wizards for such things, although their functionality is limited). If you write an ASP or ASP.NET data interface, for instance, you can switch to any DSN-compatible database you want, from Access to MySQL to Oracle to MSDE to full SQL.

Web-based interfaces are much safer than giving users direct access to the data using Access or whatever. Plus, each user doesn't have to have a copy of Access or other database program. Also, about any operating system will work for the client PC.

 

[bupkus]

RM, I'm a Subscriber to the MS Action Pack and I have all this server software and I never use it. I was thinking of installing the Small Business Server 2003 cause I thought it could be of some use, but even if I do it won't set me up for ultimately making this stuff available via the www. Of all the MS stuff I have, I only tend to use maybe 10% of it. Lately, I'm just using XP MCE2005. What a waste.

I wish I knew what to do with it all. Be nice people. 😉

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: bupkus

I was thinking of installing the Small Business Server 2003 cause I thought it could be of some use, but even if I do it won't set me up for ultimately making this stuff available via the www.

Huh? SBS comes with IIS doesn't it? That's all you need, although I would also suggest installing PHP on IIS and use PHP to write the dynamic content in your webpages. What exactly are you wanting to put out on the web?

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: bupkus
I wish I knew what to do with it all. Be nice people. 😉

Please don't sell or give away any part of your Action Pack. Unlike much NFR or NFD software, you actually "signed" an agreement with MS that you wouldn't do so. Besides, MS is pretty generous with their offering of the Action Pack. Without it, I'd never have gotten into the IT consulting business. It'd be a shame to lose this deal.

 

[bupkus]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: bupkus
I wish I knew what to do with it all. Be nice people. 😉

Please don't sell or give away any part of your Action Pack. Unlike much NFR or NFD software, you actually "signed" an agreement with MS that you wouldn't do so. Besides, MS is pretty generous with their offering of the Action Pack. Without it, I'd never have gotten into the IT consulting business. It'd be a shame to lose this deal.

I never considered it. I just wish I had some mentors.
I'm reading about php and mysql but I could use that on a linux server.
I still don't know what the advantages are of MS's Servers.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: bupkus

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: bupkus
I wish I knew what to do with it all. Be nice people. 😉

Please don't sell or give away any part of your Action Pack.

I never considered it. I just wish I had some mentors.

Sorry. I misinterpreted what you wrote.

The easiest way to start learning about MS Servers is to install (free) MS Virtual PC 2004 and install SBS in a VPC window. Save a copy of the VPC state, so if (when) you mess it up, you can just start afresh with a clean intall.

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: bupkus

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: bupkus
I wish I knew what to do with it all. Be nice people. 😉

Please don't sell or give away any part of your Action Pack. Unlike much NFR or NFD software, you actually "signed" an agreement with MS that you wouldn't do so. Besides, MS is pretty generous with their offering of the Action Pack. Without it, I'd never have gotten into the IT consulting business. It'd be a shame to lose this deal.

I never considered it. I just wish I had some mentors.
I'm reading about php and mysql but I could use that on a linux server.
I still don't know what the advantages are of MS's Servers.

Well the only thing that I don't see an equal or better equivalent on linux, is Active Directory and Exchange (particularly it's integration with Outlook). There is also the fact that Microsoft products are supported. Granted, you can get support through Redhat or now Conanical for many open source things, but it can still be an issue when dealing with third party software. For instance, we have a web app that only works with IIS and we have several apps that require Microsoft SQL as a back-end. In all cases, the software could be ported to work with Apache or MySQL, but for whatever their reasons are, the vendors refuse to do that.